Jackie: Hello, I'm Jackie Dalton. Welcome to Entertainment, which this week

has a sports theme. We're going to be finding out about how noise from

spectators at sports events affects players or competitors taking part in a

sport.

Sandy Wilson

It's been well known for many years that noise has a major effect on performance.

Jackie: Sports psychologist Dr Sandy Wilson says noise affects the performance

of sportsmen and women. It 'affects their performance' means it

influences how well they do or don't do when they're taking part in a

sport – their performance. Listen to Sandy again and try to answer this

question: how does noise affect our bodies?

Sandy Wilson

It's been well known for many years that noise has a major effect on performance. Noise

causes an increase in people's arousal level, so that when people do hear noise, their

heart rate increases, they breathe more quickly, they sweat a bit more. And all these

kinds of things have an effect on performance.

Jackie: Sandy says noise affects arousal levels. If your body becomes more

aroused, it is ready for action – as Sandy said, your heart might beat

faster to get the blood around your body faster and you might breathe

more quickly to get more oxygen in. This means your body is more 

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prepared for the physical challenge of sport. So the sound of a noisy,

cheering crowd can give sportspeople the extra energy to do well. But

what about the noise spectators make when they're angry with their team

because they aren't performing well?

Angry spectators sometimes boo their team. To 'boo' someone is to make

a noise to show you don't like their performance. How does this affect

players? Listen to Sandy to find out.

Sandy Wilson

I think it makes them distracted and self-conscious and ultimately will have a negative

effect on them, so I think it's counterproductive to boo your own team.

Jackie: Did you get the answer? Sandy says it's counterproductive to boo your

own team. 'Counterproductive' – it achieves the opposite effect to what

you want. It's counterproductive because players get 'distracted', which

means they can't focus on what they're doing and 'self-conscious', which

means worried about what people think of them. All this means they'll

find it more difficult to perform well. Listen again.

Sandy Wilson

I think it makes them distracted and self-conscious and ultimately will have a negative

effect on them, so I think it's counterproductive to boo your own team.

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Jackie: Sandy says it's not just the players who are affected by the noise crowds

make. As you listen to this next clip, you'll hear the word 'handball'

which is an expression used when a footballer has touched the football

with his or her hand when they weren't meant to. So, let's listen to Sandy 

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again. Now try to answer this question: apart from the players, who else

might be affected by crowd noise?

Sandy Wilson

I think the noise that comes from the crowd can have a major effect on the referee. It's

not just the players who are affected, but the referees are affected. If you're a referee and

you suddenly hear 40, 000 people shout 'handball!' then it might not be a question of

being intimidated by the crowd…it might be that that information can help you make a

decision on what's been happening.

Jackie: Did you get the answer? Sandy says crowds can also influence referees –

the people who make sure the rules of sport are being followed during a

game.

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Some sports are noisier than others. Gary Sussman is an announcer at

New Jersey's basketball stadium. His job is to build up some excitement

among the players and the fans – 'the fans' - people who have come to

support and encourage a particular team. He says basketball is the sport

where players are most affected by the noise around them. Why is this?

Listen to find out.

Gary Sussman

When you look at all the American sports, whether it be basketball, baseball, football,

hockey… probably basketball - the crowd, the music - has the most effect because the

players are closest to the fans and it just seems that they just get that extra bit of pace,

that extra speed, just that extra motivation from the crowd noise and that's why that

home advantage is so big in basketball. 

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Jackie: Gary says basketball players are really affected by the noise because they

are so close to the fans. He says the noise gives players an extra bit of

pace – 'pace', which means speed. He says they get more motivation –

they feel more encouraged to do well. Another expression you might

have heard is 'home advantage'. 'Home advantage' – let's break that down.

To play a match 'at home' means to play in your own sports field or

stadium, instead of at your opponent's. When we say a team has 'home

advantage', we mean their chances of doing well are improved because

they are playing in their own town. Let's play that clip again and listen

out for those words: pace, motivation, home advantage.

Gary Sussman

When you look at all the American sports, whether it be basketball, baseball, football,

hockey… probably basketball - the crowd, the music - has the most effect because the

players are closest to the fans and it just seems that they just get that extra bit of pace,

that extra speed, just that extra motivation from the crowd noise and that's why that

home advantage is so big in basketball.

Jackie: So if you're a fan of a particular sports team, make sure you go and

encourage your team the next time they play – it seems your voice can

make a difference!